How Choose a topic of interest, spend a little time researching it, have a discussion, publish the notes.

Why The main benefits are the fostering of a greater understanding of the world before we die and hopefully, to prompt further thought and discussion from our listeners.

The topic we will be discussing in this show is The British Monarchy

Topic Overview

Rulers recognised as monarchs appear in recorded history as early as 757AD when Offa became the king of Mercia, the then principal kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England. Throughout the following 1200 years, Kings and Queens have inherited, usurped and returned to the top of the social order to establish a gnarly tree of competing dynasties. Today, the royal family is virtually a political institution able to deftly negotiate its holdings with the largely secular government and increasingly secular church. As the rest of the world maintains a keen fascination with the celebrity and colourful lives of the extended family, are they managing to stay relevant in the shrinking world of the modern era?

Off Topic

(What we’re not talking about.)

Extensive history

Thermal imaging cameras

Talking Points

Influence on culture

Historical culture

Modern culture

Foreign view

The problem with privilege by birthright

Controversy & Scandal

The princes in the Tower, Richard III allegedly killed child princes Edward V and Richard, Duke of York in 1483

Mad King George III

Inbreeding

Prince Charles complains about people ‘rising above their station’. "What is wrong with people nowadays? Why do they all seem to think they are qualified to do things far above their capabilities?" the heir to the throne exclaims in the memorandum addressed to a more senior member of his household staff. NBC News 2004

Independent article, 2014: Royal family expenses: Taxpayers pay 56p each for upkeep of monarchy – and royals insist it's 'value for money' - ‘The Queen’s official expenditure from the Sovereign Grant, the amount released from the public purse each year to finance the monarch, increased to £35.7m - a rise of £1.9m on the previous year.’

Head of State The British monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy, the Queen is Head of State but the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament. Although, she does have ‘royal assent’. Explained on the UK Government web site.

‘The Queen can give Royal Assent in person but this has not happened since 1854. The Queen's agreement to give her assent to a Bill is a formality.’

Head of the Nation In her religious role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she is responsible for promoting Anglicanism in Britain. This is a purely symbolic position and the Queen has no real power.

House of Windsor previously Saxe-Coburg and Gotha but changed by King George V in 1917 owing to anti-German sentiment during World War 1. In 1947, the Queen married Prince Philip who was a member of House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg - not surprising that he dropped that

Jargon

Heraldry The art or science of a herald; now, esp. the art or science of blazoning armorial bearings and of settling the right of persons to bear arms or certain bearings; in connection with which it deals with the tracing and recording of pedigrees, and deciding of questions of precedence. - OED

Wrap Up

Details about site, contacts, next show: Michael Jackson (The King of Pop)

Outro music choice - something open source or out of copyright so we don’t get sued

Zadok the Priest: The Coronation Anthem by George Handelas recorded by the Choir of Westminster Abbey. Premiered on October 11, 1727 for the coronation of George II. All subsequent coronations have used the piece. The other anthems he wrote for George II are: Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, My Heart Is Inditing and The King Shall Rejoice. Zadok the priest is from the first chapter of 1 Kings in the old testament, line 39 (KJV): ‘And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.’